Star Trek: Voyager (TV Series) One Small Step (1999) User Reviews

A moving tribute towards space exploration!

[latin_heart · 9/10 · 28 January 2013]

This episode isn't perfect. Mainly because Chakotay's attitude here seems somewhat out of character. Despite these flaws, the episode is chock-full of interesting and relevant themes worth exploring.

Space exploration has always been a kind of a spiritual journey in my opinion. One of humanity noblest endeavors. And this episode pays tribute to that! I always loved Star Trek's attitude towards space exploration: it's not something irrelevant that just throws away money and resources, as many would have you believe in our contemporary world. It's the outward expansion of the human spirit. An expansion towards the Universe. Reaching out, discovering and redefining ourselves along the way. Even if it means to face failure. Because failure and success are just two sides of the same coin. You can't appreciate success if you haven't failed. And as the Mars pilot Lt. John Kelly says in his own words in the episode 'Don't see it as a failure..I don't'.

I really liked that Seven, understands all this in the end of the episode, when she says that 'In a sense, we're more alike than one might think. In a sense, his desire to explore was not unlike a quest for perfection. His contributions helped secure humanity's future...and my own'.

These are really very deep themes worthy of appreciation and reflection upon. And are very relevant also today, in a world fixated on being as risk-averse as possible, and dismissive of the value of exploration and discovery. And it has always been such a pleasure that these themes are integral to the Star Trek philosophy as well and this episode chooses to pay such a tribute to this.

A little gem in Voyager

[WKYanks · 9/10 · 9 August 2013]

I didn't rate this episode a 10 because if Chakotay's incompetence. He should be court-martialed for putting his ship and crew at risk in violation of direct orders from Janeway.

Aside from that, this episode is a gem.

During this episode, Seven initially has a dismissive attitude towards LT Kelley and the "value" of his 300 year old accomplishments. She has no concept of the risk taken and what baby steps were hurdled as humans reached out to the stars. The Borg don't explore, they assimilate. Humans at this level of technology wouldn't have even interested them so the effort here doesn't register to her. As Seven listens to LT Kelley's tapes we see her gradually change her attitude. Normally a mission focused unemotional unit in a collective with no concept of risk, Seven begins to understand the concept of what it meant to be a true explorer and hero. She comes to appreciate sacrifice and selfless dedication exhibited by Kelley as he states his mission isn't a failure and continues to explore with the clear realization the fruits of his labor would never be seen as his life was going to end trapped in a little metal box with no windows. She comes to realize that Kelley was an individual that chose to take this risk for the betterment of humanity. He's not just a drone assigned a task in which he has no choice but to comply.

Seven's comment to Kelley "The Yankees, in six games" during his memorial service is the culmination of this growth. Another baby step in her quest to become human again and understand humanity.

Wonderful episode.

This episode celebrates everything Star Trek is about.

[mwelsh-2 · 9/10 · 17 December 2020]

I really enjoy episodes that connect the Delta Quadrant to the Alpha Quadrant in some way. Some of them are a pretty big stretch but I found this one to be entirely appropriate and poignant. Sure, some of the decisions were questionable but given their situation in the Delta Quadrant and their great longing for home I didn't find them surprising. I'm reviewing this episode in December of 2020, we all know it's been a rough year and that Star Trek is fiction, but I still loved the idea that Mars missions with actual astronauts were happening 12 years from now in the Star Trek universe. Seven learning the value of the mission was heartwarming and her bringing the body of the fallen astronaut back for a proper burial was perfect. The icing on the cake and the part that made me choke up? "The Yankees. In six games." This episode celebrates everything Star Trek is about, exploration of space and growing our knowledge of the universe.

Misunderstood Themes

[hour4chris · 14 September 2011]

This is a misunderstood episode. One reviewer has said it would be expected if Tom acted irrationally but not Chakotay. It was explained that the Mars missions were a passion of his so yes he would be wanting the module and put it ahead of their well being. Meribor another reviewer says "And Seven brings the body back all for them to bury him in space. I think Kelly would've rather stayed with his ship, his dream." Anyone who has been in the service will know that the burial at the end is a high honor. The speech shows that seven is growing as an individual and connected with someone else. This episode is deep on many levels. You have to have some sort of analytic mind rather than "oh it's a show that makes you think. I won't like it." These people are explorers and will put their lives in danger to gain knowledge.

An incredibly strong 2nd half makes this an essential watch for Star Trek fans

[dirvingman-62136 · 9/10 · 13 May 2021]

The premise of the episode seems like a basic one for Voyager - "A space anomoly! It has old stuff in it!" - coupled with a noticeably irritable and sassy Seven Of Nine who seems to have forgotten some of her character development. Still fine but nothing to get too excited about.

Then they find the old Mars mission command module, which was swept up in the anomoly some 300 years prior. Then Seven Of Nine goes aboard and discovers a treasure trove of logs and data that the lone astronaut aboard recorded as he struggled to escape and ultimately perished. It's incredibly touching and a great embodiment of the ethos that Star Trek is all about. Honestly, if the first half of the story was a little tighter, and if it had occurred earlier in Seven's character development (like Season 4) - this episode would be Voyager's answer to The Inner Light and The Visitor.

It's not quite at that level, but it still moved me considerably. Highly recommend. One of my new favorite episodes on my first watch through of this show.

The Holes around Mars

[XweAponX · 10/10 · 13 October 2013]

This episode was apparently dedicated to Jerome Bixby, creator of the Star Trek "Mirror-Mirror" Universe. Also, "Requiem for a Methuselah", "Day of the Dove" and my Favourite, "By Any Other Name". In fact Deep Space Nine's 7th Season 12th Episode "The Emperor's New Cloak" was also dedicated to him.

He also wrote Gigaquads of Short Stories in the 50's and 60's, one of these was called "The Holes Around Mars" - Regarding an Anomaly orbiting Mars, one of the first times a conundrum was used in a science fiction story.

This 24th Century Conundrum has also orbited mars in the 21st Century, and taken away an Orbiting Command Module The Aries 4 containing a Lt. John Kelly (Mission Impossible Alumni Greg Morris' Progeny, Phil Morris- Quite a resemblance), whose dedication saw him continuing to take readings on the oddity until he was sucked into it.

This Graviton Ellipse, or Borg Spacial Anomaly 521, is following Voyager like an Excited Puppy, the Object likes to follow things (and ships) exhibiting Electromagnetic Energy. Voyager's On-Line History Books show Kelly's Command Module getting inhaled by this thing.

So of course, they want to go in there and pick up relics. Seven knows a Borg way of doing this, and Joins the two Mars aficionados of Voyager, Chakotay and Paris in the Modified Flyer.

They find plenty when they get inside, it has junk that has been accumulating since the Big Bang floating around in it. But Chakotay wants the Big Prize, the "Aries 4" command Module.

But the Anomaly suddenly finds something it likes more than Voyager - A Dark Matter Asteroid. Janeway tells Chakotay to get the hell out of there but he disobeys, trying to tractor the Module but they run out of time and when the Asteroid Hits, they get sucked back in.

I've read quite a discussion of this in these reviews, that Chakotay was a jerk, incompetent, but most great discoveries were also the result of "Extreme Risk" taking. Perhaps Chakotay was a bit too ambitious or maybe even greedy. But in all fairness, any one of us may have done exactly what he did.

But Seven of Sixty-Nine does not agree, she is very angry that Chakotay had put them all at risk. But she forgets that at the beginning of the Episode, she was also disobeying Orders, trying to enhance the Ships Computer without Torres' Authorization and it caused a multitude of problems.

So the damage is done, with 2 hours before the Ellipse gets snorted back into Subspace, they have to figure out a way to get power to their Propulsion systems.

When Voyager sends a Probe in to the Ellipse and regains Comms, Torres shows them a 21st century solution to their problem, use a gadget that's on the Command Module that can do the same thing as a Plasma Manifold.

With Paris trying to regain the Flyer's Systems and Chakotay injured, Seven puts on an EV suit and beams to the Module. While there, she starts recording Kelly's Logs. Even while facing death, he kept taking readings and doing his job. She finds this admirable.

In the end she is able to save the logs, as well as the Plasma Carburetor and Kelly's body. They are able to exit the Ellipse with mere seconds (as usual, eh?)

Regardless of these "Cookie Cutter" story elements, I enjoyed Seven's time on the Module and the short Vignettes of Kelly's last logs. A change in her occurs, she is able to understand why Humans will go to such extreme measures in the name of Exploration.

Our own space program was fraught with accidents and unfortunate occurrences, but we keep trying even in the face of these and even Government Shutdowns. We should have stations on the Moon by how, but all we have is one measly International Space Station and a Hubble Telescope or two. Perhaps one day we will send Men to Mars, even if there is not as much as a Microbe there. And when we do, we will finally honor men like Jerome Bixby and see if there really are "Holes around Mars".

A seven-league boots leap for Seven

[tomsly-40015 · 8/10 · 18 January 2024]

This episode is a tribute to all the explorers who paid with their lives ushering the dawn of a new era, but also paved the way for other explorers who came after them. Explorers who wrote history and were or still are role models for entire generations.

The Voyager crew discovers an old spacecraft from the 21st century inside a space anomaly, which was swallowed and dragged along by this anomaly during an early mission to Mars. For Chakotay, Janeway, and everyone else except Seven, it is clear that this piece of history must be recovered to honor the memory of the shining hero of this mission, whose life was swept away by this space anomaly. While the crew feels the touch of nostalgia under their fingertips and is thrilled to have made such a once in a lifetime discovery, Seven cannot get excited about recovering a pile of ancient technology and putting her own life in danger to do so. However, Janeway convinces her to "volunteer" for this salvage mission because it might teach her how important history and its heroes are to the human species - something she never learned as a Borg Drone.

While the episode is certainly appealing as an example of how much the stories of a few heroes determine both the future of a civilization and the careers of individual people, it also gets very pompous at times. Chakotay is willing to risk not only his life but also those of Paris and Seven just to get the spacecraft back to Voyager. Despite all the nostalgia, the here and now should still be the focus when in doubt. Especially since memories and legends continue to exist, even without material memorabilia being archived.

In any case, Seven has her character development moment when she realizes how important the knowledge of bygone days can be for today's spirit of discovery and that the human species in particular needs role models to guide them on their own journey of discovery.

A tribute to exploration

[snoozejonc · 6/10 · 16 July 2020]

Voyager and the crew of the Delta Flyer end up in a dangerous situation following the discovery of a graviton eclipse containing a command module from an old Mars exploration mission.

The theme of exploration is the main focus on of the story and it is tackled with a great deal of passion. Seven of Nine's comparison between human exploration and the Borg search for perfection is one of my favourite parts.

I did struggle with two aspects of the episode. Firstly, Chakotay's actions, which serve the plot but damage his credibility as senior officer aboard Voyager. I have no doubt that in the next episode we are expected to take him seriously again as the second in command.

Secondly, I think it goes a bit over the top with sentiment towards the end. I did not really invest enough in the John Kelly character for this to work. However, this will not be a problem for everyone, this is merely a result of the show's passion for its subject matter.

Contrived but Entertaining

[Hitchcoc · 7/10 · 10 September 2018]

I guess one has to constantly look past the careless actions of the leadership of this vessel or we'd be angry all the time. Voyager finds herself perpetually in deep doodoo because chances are taken that are unnecessary. This time it is Chakotay who pushes this venture and then insubordinately threatens the lives of everyone else. I suppose sentimentality is part of our humanity. Still, survival is a lot more important. The writers worked it all out, but how many times does one play with fire before being scorched. It was a bit touching, however.

An exploration of exploration.

[thevacinstaller · 7/10 · 11 February 2023]

I can totally understand SO9's disdain of exploration ---- this girls irresponsible parents went off exploring and ended up getting themselves (and SO9) assimilated. It was a nice little arc in this episode having SO9 be a direct witness to the courage/wonderment displayed by the stranded captain of the shuttle.

I will also give Chakotay a pass on trying to tractor the shuttle. He's a Maquis archaeologist! In the imaginary part 2 to this episode during the court martial scene --- he gets up and states, "I did it for HISTORY!" There is no doubt in my mind that Tom Paris would tractor a 1966 Ford Mustang if put in the same position.

It did get a bit clunky with the Armstrong/Buzz name drops. Ahh, those were men ---- Climb into a steel drum with the computer power of a 1980's banking calculator and shoot off into the unknown. It does however tie into the theme of exploration and being ballsy (or crazy) that is a dominate feature in most frontier explorers.

I feel like SO9 learned something in this episode. Some episodes end with, "Oh, you crazy humans and your wacky individuality ---- so inefficient" but in this one she shows genuine vulnerability.

Solid episode.

a little bit touched, a little bit mad

[meribor · 4/10 · 23 April 2007]

As a huge Voyager fan, it means a lot when an episode angers me. I'm usually very forgiving. I have to agree with Seven, that, in this case, 'history is irrelevant." So this anomaly sucked up a Mars mission module and it's pilot in 2032. Now Voyager finds the anomaly. Despite the risk that they may be stuck inside, they send in 3 important crew and their best shuttle and for what? A relic? Sentiment? Nostalgia? Waaaay not worth the risk. Chakotay not only disobeys orders but seriously risks their lives. What a jerk! Very, very stupid. I was kinda surprised Tuvok didn't protest and point out the obvious logic, but he follows orders and that's that. Seven protested but in the end she broke down. I thought the speech at the funeral was very out-of-character. And Seven brings the body back all for them to bury him in space. I think Kelly would've rather stayed with his ship, his dream. This episode just was all wrong from the start. It's like they had this great back story, great character (Phil Morris was great and so were his scenes) and they hurried to come up with a reason to go into the ellipse. Just leaves me chapped. Only great thing was the Kelly character and the actor Phil Morris who played him was great. Definitely not like his Seinfeld character. How tortuous to hear the logs as he slowly dies alone, though. Just silly.

Rather sad and poignant at times.

[planktonrules · 1 March 2015]

The show begins in the early 21 century. A space flight from Earth to Mars is interrupted when a 'gravatron ellipse' appears and sucks the ship out of known existence. Now, centuries later, Voyager comes upon the wreckage of this old ship and Chakotay is determined to salvage the craft--or at least what's left of it. However, when the ellipse appears once again, Chakotay might just get himself and others killed.

This is a bittersweet and enjoyable type of episode with a lot of sad nostalgia associated with it. Phillip Morris stars as the fated captain of the old Nasa ship.

By the way, early in the show the Doctor talks about Arakkis Prime. Arakkis is an inside joke, as it's from Frank Herbert's classic sci- fi novel, "Dune".

A clunky attempt to advance Seven and Chakotay's characters

[LordManhammer · 6/10 · 20 May 2021]

One aspect of Voyager I appreciate is that episodes focusing on one character are just as likely to focus on that character's foibles as on their heroism, and I find this to be realistic and relatable.

But here, attempts to flesh out Chakotay's back story and Seven's emotional development fall flat. Chakotay is suddenly a Mars exploration aficionado, even though he said nothing of the sort when presented with the opportunity on a recent episode entirely about the Mars missions, 11:59 (1999).

He also suddenly has a passion for paleontology, despite never having mentioned this in past discussions of his early life and time in Starfleet. We already knew he left Starfleet after his father's death caused him to re-evaluate his priorities, and here he states that joining the Maquis derailed his pursuit of paleontology. Yet one would assume at that point he would already have taken major steps toward this career--there has never been any indication Starfleet expects its scientists to delay their advanced training. These new interests felt contrived, and it would have helped if Chakotay directly connected them--such as stating he was interested in the history of space exploration specifically because it can lead to exobiological or paleontological study of life on other planets; but since he didn't draw this connection his new passions were odd.

Disobeying orders isn't exactly out of character for Chakotay, as some of his best episodes involved his decision to pursue his own course, like in Maneuvers (1995). The problematic aspect of his behavior here that felt out of character is that he kept stopping other characters to chat even though they were facing a major time crunch to save their lives, like when he waylaid Seven on her way to the Mars module in order to slowly explain his regrets about the mission and ask her to look around the module for sentimentality's sake.

Captain Janeway also irked a little, acting arrogant and condescending when Seven questioned the wisdom of entering the anomaly and even pulling rank on her in such an unnecessary way ("I appreciate your concern, but this is my call"). I'm a historian, and even I got frustrated with the crew's repeated insistences that recovering historical artifacts would allow them to be part of history, and thus was worth risking their lives. This is one of many episodes where Seven has to learn a lesson, yet here, her objections were always reasonable and the crew's responses to her were not lessons I would have her learn.

Chakotay breaks the rules and endangers Seven and Tom

[Tweekums · 7/10 · 4 April 2010]

This episode opened with a scene showing an early mission to Mars where the command module is caught in a strange spacial anomaly. Then after the credits we are back with Voyager just as the same anomaly appears out of subspace and almost engulfs the ship. Commander Chakotay wants to investigate it by flying the Delta Flier inside the anomaly when scans indicate that the remains of the Martian mission may still be inside. Seven thinks this is an unnecessary risk but Captain Janeway encourages her to "volunteer" for the mission. Once inside they find the module and try to tow it out using the tractor beam, unfortunately the anomaly is approaching a large dark matter object so they are ordered to get out of quickly. Chakotay refuses to leave the module behind and they are caught in the anomaly without engines with only a couple of hours to find a way to get out before the anomaly returns to subspace.

This episode had a decent story although it seemed that Chakotay was acting out of character when he refused to leave the module and thus endangered the crew of the Flyer. One would expect Tom Paris to take such risks but not Chakotay. The story of the commander of the Martian mission logging what he saw before he died was touching and he was played well be guest star Phil Morris.

Forgettable

[McStubby · 2/10 · 18 July 2021]

Technobabble, technobabble, technobabble. Zero regard for history, with no mention of the first man in space, Yuri Gagarin. Utter ignorant US tripe.